Vehicle-wheel.



G. B. LAMBERT.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1911.

Pa tented Apr.2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I INVENTOR I bm/zwpifaiizhvt WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS G. B. LAMBERT.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.|3,1911

1,022,369. Patented Apr.2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3/5 3/ mwwwwgg -4 Afro/mus UNITED STATE FATE OFFIC.

GERARD B. LAMBERT, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERARD B. LAMBERT, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedVehicle-Wheel, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels for use with pneumatic andother tires, and has reference more particularly to the combination of awheel proper, a removable tire-carrying rim mountedv thereon and fulcruming at two points of the circumference of the wheel, whereby the rimcan be swung in opposite directions out of the plane of the wheel, meansfor swinging the rim, and wedging means between the wheel and the rim.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and durablevehicle wheel with which pneumatic and other tires can be employed,which is adapted for use with automobiles and other vehicles, which iscomparatively compact in form, and light in weight, which differs littlein appearance from the ordinar vehicle wheel used for like purposes, anin which the removable rim carrying the tire can be easily andexpeditiously removed and replaced when necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle wheel havinga. removable tire-carrying rim, in which means are pro vided forreleasing the rim and for looking it securely in place, the operation ofthe abovementioned means insuring the secure seating of the rim upon thefelly, and also insuring the easy removal of the rim so that the lattercannot become rusted or otherwise inadvertently fastened in place, andin which the wedgingdevices comprise an annular member of wedgecross-section, and a plurality of separate wedging elements to beengaged with the annular member.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure l is avertical section of a vehicle wheel constituting an embodiment of mySpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 8, 1911.

Patented Apr. 2. 1912.

Serial No. 618,533.

invention, parts being broken away, the section being taken on the line1-1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary section on the line2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the rim being removed from the wheel; Fig. 3 isan enlarged, fragmentary, transverse section, certain of the parts beingshown in different positions in broken outline; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary,transverse section showing certain of the details of construction; andFig. 5 is a perspective view showing a further detail of construction.

Before proceeding to a more detailed .explanation of my invention, itshould be clearly understood that while the vehicle wheel isparticularly useful in connection with the ordinary pneumatic tiresusually employed, which are secured in place by means of an ordinaryclencher rim or a removable rim such as illustrated for exampleherewith, any other tire-carrying rim, and other forms of tires which itis necessary from time to time to replace, can be advantageouslyemployed therewith.

Like the vehicle wheel shown in my United States Patent No. 982,143,issued January 17, 1911, the present invention makes use of but a singleoperating member for removing and replacing the rim and for securing itin position. This operating member serves to swing the rim transverselyof the wheel, the rim being fulcrumed upon two points of the wheel, orrather of the folly band, so that the rim itself swings in bothdirections out of the plane of the wheel, asdistinguished from thedevice shown in the above-mentioned patent, in which the rim fulcrumsupon a single point of the circumi'erence of the wheel. In the presentinstance, the wedging devices between the wheels and the rim are also ofdifferent construction. Certain of the details of construction'shown forexample, herewith, form no part of the invention, and can be varied inaccordance with individual preference and special conditions, withoutdeviating from the essence of the invention as defined inthe appendedclaims.

Referring more particularly to the drawi gs, I have shown for example,herewith. :1 ve llClB wheel com rising the usual hub 10, the spokes 11,and t 1e folly 12. Upon the folly is shrunk or otherwise secured, thefelly band 13, which is ermanently associated with the folly. T e bandis of double wedge cross-section, having its line of greatest thicknessnear one edge of the felly. The surface of theband comprises a mainwedge face 1 1 and a smaller or secondary wedge face 15, inclinedrelatively to one another, and at their junctions determining the lineof greatest thickness of the band. The wedge faces 14: and 15 areannular and extend all the way around the band. The latter has a surface16, substantially parallel to the peripheral surface of the felly. Thesurface 161 is located at the edge remote from the surface 15 and oinsthe face 14:.

The tire-carrying rim 17 shown-for example herewith, is of the ffiatbase type and has at one edge an outwardly and radially disposed flange18, and near the other edge, but inwardly spaced therefrom, an inwardlyand radially disposed flange 19. Beyond the latter, therim has aninwardly extending depression 20 forming an annular groove adapted toreceive a split spring locking ring 21 of angular cross section.Associated with the rim are the usual interchangeable tire-engaging andholding rings 22. Asis shown in the drawings, they are positioned tohold in place a tire 23 of nonclencher type. By reversing the positionsof the rings 22 they will be adapted for securing aclencher tire uponthe rim. The one ring 22 is placed against the flange 18, which holds itin place; The other ring 22 is engaged by the retaining ring 21, whichis sprung into position within the groove formed by the-depression 20.

Located at the inside of the rim 1? are wedge elements 24 secured inplace by means of rivets 25 or in any other suitable manner whichpermits their permanent association with the rim. The wedge-elements areseparated suitable distances apart and are of any convenient number. Asshown for example herewith, they are four in number, and occupy one areof the circumference of the wheel, These are of double wedgecrosssection and have two relatively inclined surfaces 26 and 27,corresponding to the wedge faces 14: and 15 of the annular member 13,

and are adapted to be engaged with the same and rest against thecorresponding faces, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The .rim isalso provided on its comple mentary arc, with a plurality of wedgeelements 24, preferably four, secured in position by means of rivets 25*or in any other suitable manner. The elements 24* are of simple wedgeform, and each has one inclined face 26 adapted to be engaged with thecorresponding face 14 of the annular member 13. It will be understoodthat before the wedge elements 2 1 can be disengaged from the member 13they must move slightly radially. The elements 2e however can be slidout of engagement with the member 13, by a simple movement of the rimtransversely of the wheel.

oaaeeo The rim-operating device 28 is similar to the correspondingelement shown in my United States Patent No. 982,143 referred to supra.The device comprises an operating member 29 which has a threaded stem 30located in a correspondingly threaded opening 31 of a socket 32. Thelatter is positioned in a transverse bore 33 of the felly, and has atthe inner end a flange 31 which seats against the inside of the fellyand against the felly band, where it is secured in position in anysuitable manner. [he operating member has at the outer end a reducedneck 34, and between the same and the threaded stem a laterally extendedshould'er 35. At the end' of the reduced neck, is a head 36 of angularform, which permlts the operating member to be manipulated by means of abrace wrench or any other suitable implement. 'A wedge element 37 whichhas an inclined face similar to that of the elements 24*, adapted toengage the corresponding inclined face 1 1 of the annularmember 13,'issecured by means of I'lV- ets 38 or in any other suitable manner. at theinside of the rim, at a part thereof adjacent to the socket 32. It has aradially disposed end 39 provided with a slot or recess 40 whichreceives the neck 34 of theoperating member. The head of the operatingmember is located at the outside of the end 39, and the collar orshoulder is positioned between the'socket and the part 39. By turningthe operating member in one direction or the other the rim will be swungtransversely of the wheel, pivoting at two separated points of thecircumference of the wheel. The portion of the rim remote from theoperating member swings inwardly, and that part of the rim which carriesthe operating member swings outwardly as is shown in Flg. 2. It will beunderstood that as the operating member swings the rim out of the planeof the wheel, it. will at the same time move the rim slightly across thewheel, to permit the wedge elements 24 to clear the annular element 13.Conversely, when the member 29 is operated to seat the rim, the wedgeelements will ride into position relative to the annular element 13, andwhen the rim is arranged circumferentially about the wheel it cannot bedisplaced therefrom except through the agency of the operating member.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new, and desire tosecureby Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a wheel, a removable tire-carrying rim associatedtherewith, means for swinging said rim transversely of said wheel andwedging means between said rim and said wheel, said wedging meanscomprising a continuous annular wedge member having double wedge faces,a wedge element having double wedge faces and adapted to engage saidfirst member, and a wedge element having a single wedge face and adaptedto engage said first member.

2. In combination, a wheel, a removable tire-carrying rim associatedtherewith, a felly band mounted upon said Wheel and having relativelyinclined wedge faces, a plurality of spaced, double wedge elementsmounted upon said rim and occupying one are thereof and adapted toengage said felly band, a plurality of wedge elements carried by saidrim and occupying a complementary,

are thereof and having single wedge faces and adapted to engage saidfelly band, and an operating member for moving said rim transversely ofsaid wheel, whereby said rim can fulcrum upon said band at two pointsthereof.

3. In combination, a wheel, a removable tire-carrying rim associatedtherewith, a

felly band mounted upon said wheel and having adjacent, op osltelyinclined wedge faces, a plurality of spaced, double wedge elementsmounted upon said rim and occupying one are thereof and adapted to enage said felly band at both of said wedge aces thereof, a plurality ofwedge elements carried by said rim and occupying a complementary arcthereof and having single wedge faces adapted to engage one of saidwedge-faces of said band, and an operating member for moving said rimtransversely of said wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribin witnesses.

' ERARD B. LAMBERT.

Witnesses:

' BERT J. OULL,

W. C. SKINNER.

